More than $1 million in donations needed each year for comfort programs

Winnipeg, MB (September 10, 2026)—As the school year begins, children across Manitoba are returning to familiar routines, but for kids in our province’s only children’s hospital, learning, play, and development in the days ahead will look very different. Continued donor generosity is essential to sustain and expand the Child Life programs that bring comfort, distraction, and emotional support to patients and families at HSC Children’s Hospital. These programs require more than $1 million in donations every year to continue.

More than 140,000 kids rely on HSC Children’s Hospital each year. Thanks to generous donors and the Child Life team, they don’t just receive world-class medical treatment, they get to feel like kids. Through play, Child Life Specialists help children navigate the challenges of being in hospital and foster a sense of normalcy and control during a daunting time.

New stats from April 2025 – March 2026 show the reach of these programs, including 3,310 playroom visits, 2,868 music therapy interactions with patients and siblings, and 840 therapeutic gaming patient visits.

The Child Life program continues to harness new technology and evidence-based research to meet kids’ developmental and emotional needs and has expanded to include therapeutic gaming, virtual reality headsets for distraction during painful procedures, a roving sensory cart with items like calming bubble tubes, tablets for education and connection, and so much more. 

“Child Life is a profession grounded in research, and we are continually adapting our programs to reflect the latest evidence and best practices in pediatric care,” says Jenny Kidder, Manager of Child Life at HSC Children’s Hospital. “Donor support makes it possible for us to introduce innovative approaches and technologies that help children manage stress, build resilience, and feel a greater sense of control while they are in hospital.”

Child Life Specialists are a team of experts who use an evidence-based approach to help relieve the stress and anxiety associated with a hospital stay. Through their role, Child Life Specialists help prepare kids for medical procedures, while also normalizing the environment and helping them find ways to cope. They offer developmental play, therapeutic activities, stress management and more, while supporting and advocating for the entire family.

Child Life professionals hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree focused on child growth, development, family dynamics, stress, and coping. They also complete a 600-hour internship, maintain certification through the Association of Child Life Professionals, and fulfill ongoing professional development. For over 50 years, the Child Life team at HSC Children’s Hospital has been a calming, creative, and caring presence for children.

Child Life programming is entirely donor-funded and includes:

• Children’s Hospital TV (CHTV), the in-house TV station that provides free programming for all patients and broadcasts a live, daily show called The Good Day Show to engage and entertain kids in hospital.
• Music Therapy, which can bring a sense of calm and comfort to children and families in hospital and provide opportunities for healthy expression through singing, playing instruments, and movement.
• The Library Program that giveskidsand families access to books and movies for all ages, resources on a range of topics related to child health that can help families better understand what their child is going through, and literacy programming. Stories provide a welcome distraction from the hospital experience, and books in over 20 languages give families with diverse cultural backgrounds a sense of belonging.
• The playroom with engaging and developmentally appropriate toys and a mini hospital environment to help kids understand the procedures they may experience. Play is the universal language for children. It is how they communicate, master skills, socialize, explore their environment, and is important for their development.
• Special celebrations held by Child Life, including holidays and activities, to provide distraction and help families make meaningful memories in hospital.
• Therapeutic Gaming and Technology, which uses video games and game-based activities to support mental, emotional, and physical health. It helps kids build skills like problem-solving, stress management, and provides social interaction in an engaging and interactive way.

“We’re so grateful donors understand that caring for a child means caring for more than their medical needs,” says Stefano Grande, President and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. “Through our community’s generosity, children have access to programs and services that support their mental and emotional well-being, from music therapy and therapeutic gaming to special celebrations and everyday moments of play. These donor-funded programs make a lasting difference for thousands of Manitoba families every year.”

To learn more or make a gift in support of Child Life programming, visit goodbear.ca.